Wild In The Country (1961)

After he injures his brother (Red West) in a fight, a troubled young man (Elvis Presley) is put under probation and sent to live with his Uncle (William Mims). Part of his probation is to see a psychologist (Hope Lange) once a week and it is she who discovers his literary talent and urges him to pursue a writing career. Based on the novel THE LOST COUNTRY by J.R. Salamanca with a screenplay by Clifford Odets (GOLDEN BOY) and directed by Philip Dunne (BLUE DENIM). There was a time early in his film career when Elvis Presley actually did some serious acting rather than the lightweight musicals that became the basis of his later film career. This was probably his last decent acting job although he has a terrible drunk scene. What is it about drunk scenes that bring out the worst in actors? But the film itself is a mixed brew. It's cliched, predictable and compromised. Lange is miscast as the older woman (she's only 2 years older than Presley) and the film gives us a "happy" ending (in the book, she commits suicide). The film has also added a couple of songs for Presley to sing which seems out of place in the dramatic scenario. With Tuesday Weld (in the film's best performance) as a trampy unwed mother, Millie Perkins, John Ireland, Gary Lockwood, Robin Raymond and Christina Crawford (of MOMMIE DEAREST fame) as Lockwood's girlfriend.